Okinawa, Japan

Well, 10 years at this base (my first base, and close to my family) and a few short years from retirement, Jon got orders overseas! I was sure he'd retire here. I never thought he'd get orders anywhere, let alone back to his first duty station that he loved so much.
Back in August I got a text from Jon saying we'd have to "sell the house sooner than we thought"...  and that was it! I finally told him not to leave me in suspense and that's when he told me he was getting orders to Kadena AB in Okinawa! I was in the back of a greyhound bus with 2-week-old Geraldine just leaving Operation Shower (more on that here) with about 20 women that I didn't even know!
Of course, I called my mom who I talk to about every little thing that goes on in my life!
She was not thrilled... in fact, she cried.
I did not think that one through. I guess I was just in shock and needed to tell someone, and she's my go-to, my BFF...
I'm sad that she's sad, and I  completely understand why she is.
I'm sad because it's going to be incredibly hard to be so far from my family.
I'm scared because, well, we'll be living in a foreign country!
I'm nervous because, well, we'll be living in a foreign country!
I'm overwhelmed with all that has to be done.
I'm also excited for the opportunity for us as a family and for our kids. How many kids get the opportunity to live in a foreign country?!

Anniversary with a Bang!

Jon and I have been married 3 years on August 21st 2012. We were driving home from our vacation/family visit in Michigan on our anniversary, so we did not celebrate that day.  We are notorious for  celebrating special occasions later than the actual day!  So we finally got around to our 'date night/anniversary celebration' a couple months later.  It was a great night, although I'm not sure who had more fun!  We went to a pistol range (My first time shooting a pistol!)  I was so excited to go.  Jon purchased his pistol quite a few months ago and since then I've been itching to go to the range and learn to shoot it, but with the baby, it's been hard for us to get away!  Jon grew up in a hunting family and is now in the military, so he is familiar and comfortable with many types of fire arms.  I, on the other hand, only shot once before. I visited a friend in North Dakota in the summer of... 2006 I think, and we shot rifles and shotguns at targets and clay pigeons in her back yard.  That was awesome.  Not many places you can do that around here though!  Other than that, I have zero experience with guns.  So, our date night consisted of: the range, dinner at Applebees, and a movie (The Dark Night Rises.)  Dinner and the movie were just that, dinner and a move.  Not very eventful.  The range, was awesome!  We went to Pistol People in Bensalem, and the owner (at least I think he was the owner) was really cool and helpful.  After learning that this would be my first time shooting a pistol, he gave me a one on one lesson on how to handle the weapon and defend myself.  Apparently I was picking up on things quicker than he thought I would because he was very impressed!  He even gave me a holster to try out after I started shooting!  I guess Jon was also impressed because when we got home (well after saying goodbye to our awesome babysitter) the first thing he did was take pictures of the targets and post them to his facebook page!

This is the pic he posted!

Shooting is my new favorite thing and I can't wait to go again!!  Are you a military spouse?   What branch?   Do you shoot?  How do you feel about it, do you love it as much as me?!?  How bout kids and guns/gun safety, do you teach (or plan to teach) your kids about guns and safety or will/do you keep them from the kids all together?  I'd love to hear your answers and thoughts! Thanks for reading!

Jon

I met my husband just over 5 years ago when my twin sister and I turned 23. When I found out he was in the Air Force, I didn't have the first clue as to what a military life was like. I'd like to say I learned quickly, but, I can't... I'm still learning.

Abby & Daddy After work (june 2012)

He spent the first 7 years of his military career in Japan (before I knew him). He's been stationed in New Jersey since then for the last 7 years, during which time he has deployed twice. The first time was only a little over a year after we had met. His last deployment was in the summer of 2010. Each deployment was 4 months long.  Those were some of the longest months of my life.  Since having Abby in 2011, thankfully, Jon has not had to deploy, and with any luck, he will not have to any time soon!